As special counsel Robert Mueller builds his case, relatives of former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn are among those pressing the president to use his unique legal power and ‘put these defendants out of their misery.’

Dutch FM: Turkey has no say in our society

Dutch Foreign Minister Bert Koenders on Friday criticized Turkish consul general to the Netherlands for sending letters to several mayors, instructing them how to deal with demonstrations by opponents of the government in Ankara.

“This is a Dutch society, the Netherlands control it. Not Turkey,” Koenders said, according to broadcaster RTL.

The letter by Consul General Sadin Ayyildiz was being sent to Dutch mayors of several towns near Rotterdam.

Koenders’s comments come after Rotterdam mayor Ahmed Aboutaleb warned Turkey to not intervene in Dutch politics and society following a failed coup against the government and president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan last month.

Aboutaleb invited the consul to discuss the matter, but local media reported that Ayyildiz cancelled the meeting.

Koenders will be travelling to Turkey next week and he will bring up the issue at meetings with government officials.

“I will tell them how important the rule of law is to the Netherlands and Europe and that we are concerned about the situation following the coup,” Koenders said.

In April, the Turkish Consulate in the Netherlands became the center of attention when it called upon Turks in the country to report back about any insults directed at Erdoğan.